NTBA T-Bucket Nationals - Web Exclusive

1/21A weeklong event of non-stop fun culminated in a big Saturday show at the Coker/Honest Charley Speed Shop complex. No car defines open air motoring quite like the venerable T-Bucket.

There is no denying the important role the T-bucket has played in the hobby of street rodding. During the rebirth of street rodding in the seventies it seemed half the cars at any street rod gathering were T-buckets. The T-bucket had a lot going for it, it was relatively simple to build, quite affordable and provided wicked performance in an open air atmosphere second only to motorcycles. Cross country trips to the early NSRA Street Rod Nationals in a bucket are now the thing of legend, bragging rights that last a lifetime.

2/21Carl Tschopp built a thoroughly modern interpretation of the famed T-bucket. Resplendent in orange, the “real fire” flames, billet mirror and modern aluminum engine accessories make this one very modern T.

The venerable T-bucket began to lose favor with the advent of fiberglass bodies of the Model A and Deuce roadster, followed by coupe bodies and now steel bodies. Add to that, growing families and many of hot rodding’s first repro-rods found themselves parked, in favor of a larger more comfortable car. Oh, the T-bucket never went away completely, but only the hardcore hot rodder remained in a bucket.

Fast forward 25-years and the T-bucket is making a bit of a comeback, and for all the same reasons these neat roadster were so popular back in the seventies and eighties. Easy and economical to build and fun to drive, a lot of hot rodders are building a bucket for local cruise nights, the real guys are still hitting the highway in one.

And so 14-years ago the Nation T-Bucket Alliance Nationals was born, a national association dedicated to the building, preservation and use of everything T-bucket. The association includes a very active online community and their annual event changes location every year, and what an event it is. Now you may be thinking of a couple hundred T-buckets caged inside a fairgrounds somewhere, but you’d be wrong. No. the NTBA Nationals is a week-long, and frankly we don’t understand why there aren’t more events just like this one.

6/21Mike Goodman of Honest Charley fame built this bucket back in 1971, and even won “Best Unfinished” at the ‘72 NSRA Street Rod Nationals, well evidently it was finished because 40 years later is remains unchanged.

First, there is no entry fee. That’s right, if you are a member in good standing of the NTBA there is no fee to come to their Nationals. Second, there is no fairgrounds, rather it is based around a headquarters motel to serve as a home base for the entire week. You don’t have to spend the entire week, the actual event is from Thursday through Saturday but planned, organized events begin on Monday and end on Saturday.

This year the event was held in Chattanooga, Tennessee at the famed Chattanooga Choo Choo. This historic train depot is now a large hotel with the passenger car terminal serving as a great lobby and dining area. Outside vintage trains are still parked on the tracks and many of the cars have been converted to motel rooms. By Monday over 100 buckets were on hand and most of them made the 20-mile trip out to NTBA member and event organizer, JR Fitch’s family farm for a good ole fashioned weenie roast. Yes, hot dogs over open fire pits, drinks and lots of tales of the open road. It was a great evening that reminded us of rod runs past.

Other road trips to Jack Daniels Distillery (175 miles round trip), a poker run, evening welcome party at Coker Tire and Honest Charley Speed Shop and a drive up the fabled “tail of the dragon” were all planned for the week. The impressive thing about all this planning is it was done completely by volunteers in the club and possibly more impressive is the fact that almost everyone partakes in every event. Throw in some old fashioned valve cover racing, door prizes and a final day of show and shine at the Coker Tire/Honest Charlie facility and you can see this is one fun filled, action packed week.

We’d like to congratulate the NTBA on a fabulous event, one that should be emulated by other clubs. Next year the NTBA T-Bucket Nationals will be held in Carson City, Nevada. If you’re a T-Bucket owner you really need to add this event to, well, your bucket list. SRM